Colorado Public Radio to Hire Nine Journalists, Growing Newsroom By A Third

Jul 30, 2018

CENTENNIAL, Colo. July 30, 2018 – Colorado Public Radio (CPR) today announced that it is accelerating a multi-year vision to grow the organization’s newsroom with the addition of nine new positions, increasing CPR News staff to nearly 40 journalists. Additional staff will provide capacity to produce more Colorado news and extend the depth, variety, timeliness and anytime-anywhere access Coloradans need to understand what’s happening across the state and what it means for them.

“Colorado is a booming state with important industries and issues that need coverage - from technology to energy to environment to governing,” said Executive Editor Kevin Dale. “Covering these stories requires experienced journalists. Not just one reporter per beat, but a team of reporters who can delve into important stories with depth and investigative rigor on digital platforms, on the radio, through on-demand audio and through the things we can't imagine yet.”

Among the new positions are regional journalists who will be stationed in Grand Junction and Colorado Springs. Subsequently, four other positions will be added:

This follows a string of recent hires for the organization, including Public Affairs Reporter Bente Birkeland, Morning General Assignment Reporter Natalia V. Navarro and Digital Innovations Editor Daniel J. Schneider.

The end-result of this growth will be more stories of statewide significance and broader coverage of the state that extends far beyond metro-Denver. Coloradans can expect more frequent news updates throughout the day, a greater range of stories across important topic areas, as well as new opportunities to connect with the newsroom and share stories.

This initiative will also enable CPR to keep pace with the state’s rapid growth, investing in new forms of storytelling and finding stories that aren’t being covered by other news outlets. The expansion is being funded through CPR’s annual operating budget, 95 percent of which comes from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations.

“The community’s support of quality, in-depth news is driving this growth,” said CPR President and CEO Stewart Vanderwilt. “Colorado Public Radio continues to deliver on our mission to enrich the community through journalism that people trust, and as a result, the community continues to invest in Colorado Public Radio.”

Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that produces and curates in-depth and meaningful news and music, establishing thoughtful connections to Colorado for listeners seeking to be informed, enlightened and entertained. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations.

CPR News delivers in-depth, insightful and impartial news and information from around the world, across the nation and throughout Colorado, examining its relevance to our state and connecting it to our community.

CPR Classical takes listeners on an in-depth exploration of thoughtfully curated music – with an emphasis on Colorado’s classical community – providing context to a broad range of meaningful and compelling works from past to present.

CPR’s OpenAir takes listeners inside the world of new and independent music – exposing them to up-and-coming artists and highlighting Colorado’s local music scene.